La Liga: The Opening Weekend’s Team of the Week XI

First round of La Liga, only 12 goals in all the matches compared to 20 goals the previous season.

Champions Barcelona started the season off well with a victory against Athletic Club at San Mames, whilst title rivals Real Madrid struggled to get a win against newly-promoted Sporting Gijon.

It wasn’t the most entertaining of starts to La Liga with Malaga vs Sevilla, Deportivo vs Real Socidead, Rayo Vallecano vs Valencia and Sporting Gijon all ending in a draw.

The match that was the most eventful has got to go to Real Betis vs Villarreal, especially the last five minutes of the game that included two red cards, one for each team, and an equaliser from Betis.

In the net, Raúl Lizoain made sure Atletico Madrid didn’t extend their lead by another 2 or 3 goals after a lucky Griezmann free-kick went past him. He successfully made two clearances and won his aerial duels.

At the back, Sergi Roberto was impressive for Barcelona in a 1-0 win against Athletic Club. Perfect with four successful tackles out of four, and helped Barcelona attack from the flanks in the full-back position.

The other full-back who was on top of his game was Alberto De La Bella, who made the most defensive aerial duels, headed clearances, interceptions and tackles as a Real Sociedad player.

In the heart of defence, Aythami and Angeleri worked their socks off as they made sure opponents Sevilla and Atletico Madrid had a tough time on the attacking side of the game ensuring their strikers didn’t have any time of converting the chances given to them. Both centre-backs made the most clearances and head clearances in the first game week.

In centre midfield, Luka Modric showed why he is still a key player for Real Madrid as he created a lot of chances and provided protection for the defence. However, unluckily for him, no one managed to finish off the chances he created.

Koke was in fine form for Atletico Madrid, bossing the game in the middle of the pitch, he made the most final third passes, chances created and total amount of passes in the game.

On the wings, Antoine Griezmann was the man to show up once again for Atletico Madrid as his free-kick was deflected past the goalkeeper to give them the three points. Ricardo Horta caused Sevilla’s defence lots of troubles, created 5 chances on the weekend the most from any player this week and was unlucky with a couple shots which went off target.

In strike, Roberto Soldado returned to La Liga and scored on his debut for Villarreal. After having a tough life in England at Tottenham Hotspur, he returns to Spain to hopefully regain his form and confidence back.

The 30-year-old was on target with three shots and all of them were on target including the goal that gave Villarreal the lead against Real Betis.

Luis Suarez started off his second season in La Liga with a sublime volley for Barcelona. He will be hoping to play a full season after missing a couple of matches last season due to his ban for infamously biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini.